The previous sections should make it possible to identify the resources available to the soap factory and the existing market opportunities, and thus to clarify the corporate project in terms of:
Target market: household soap (general use), laundry soap and/or toilet soap, quantities and values.Target clientele: urban population, rural population, high grade, low grade.
Envisaged production capacity.
Commercial objectives and elements of commercial strategy: production and sales objectives, anticipated market shares, product policy, prices, distribution and promotion/communication with the market.
Different data and information will need to be gathered in order to carry out the feasibility study, which will seek the best technical and economic solution in relation to the commercial project and for the upgrading of local resources. This data mainly concerns:
Production:
Envisaged method of synthesis:
- saponification of oils and fats?
- neutralisation of fatty acids?
Technology envisaged:
- cold process
- semi-boiled process
- full boiled process
- continuous process
- pasting or lye saponification process
Degree of automation or manual intervention desired?Production capacity (according to the number of shifts):
- kg/h
- kg/day
- kg/year
Availability, quality and cost of factors of production:
- water (minimum and maximum temperature, hardness)?
- electricity (voltage, frequency)?
- steam production?
- heating fuel?
- labour and skill levels?
Existence of boilermakers' and maintenance workshops? Access to spare parts?Location of the production unit (urban setting/rural area)? Distance from markets and sources of supply? Site access routes? In all seasons? Infrastructure and communication network in the sector envisaged (roads, post and telecommunications, etc.)? Climate, rainfall, degree of humidity (for drying the soap)?
Storage areas?
Miscellaneous:
Profile of the promoter, studies, experience, qualification, professional curriculum vitaeFinancing of the project? Source of financing? Mobilisation of capital? Finance institutions? Cost of financing?
Existence of production and market-penetration subsidies and incentives?
Support sought?
- technical
- technological
- management
- commercial
- financial